About Us
[ Ottawa Team ] [ Bangladesh Team ] [ School Facilities ] [ School Staff ] [ Support Staff ]
All team members are volunteers.
OTTAWA TEAM
Shawkot Ali, of Ottawa, Canada, is originally from Gopalgonj, Bangladesh. He graduated with a degree in Philosphy prior to immigrating to Canada, and, after spending several years working in different jobs in search for steady employment, he now drives 6 1/2 nights a week for Blue Line Taxi in Ottawa. Mr. Ali lives in low income housing with his wife who works part-time and their two children. Shawkot is the Founder and President of Maleka Khatoon School. It was a story of his dream in the Ottawa Citizen that brought the rest of the Team together.
Terry Dunlap, a local businessman, and a fundraiser, contributed greatly to the school. Terry was retiring after a successful career in the construction industry in Ottawa, where he rose from apprentice plumber to part owner of the most respected mechanical contracting firm in Ontario (Modern Niagara Group Inc.). After having read about Shawkot's dream in the local newspaper, Terry, sharing Shawkot's dream, adopted the school as a retirement project. Terry is our volunteer Executive Director and Treasurer.
Mary Dunlap, Terry's wife, a retired French teacher and consultant/counselor for the Government of Canada, volunteered to be the Executive Secretary of the Committee. Mary is also the charitiy's Education Consultant who advises the teachers of Maleka Khatoon School regarding effective teaching practices and related issues. She is responsible for the Committee meeting minutes.
Catherine Ginies, Mary's sister, who is a webmaster and office administrator who runs her own business, zitacatherine.com, donated a custom website and designed new english and bengali logos for the school. Catherine is a volunteer in her local community and volunteers in maintaining the school's website. She is also our IT consultant.
BANGLADESH TEAM
In 2005, Shawkot Ali went home to Bangladesh to visit his family and to discuss with them an idea that he had about starting a school in his home town of Gopalgonj. He first met with his boyhood friend and nephew, Quamrul, who is now a Brigadier General in the Bangladesh Army. Quamrul was very enthusiastic about the idea of giving something back to their native country and whole heartedly supported Shawkot's idea of a school, promising to do whatever he could to help.
He suggested that the first step was a meeting of Shawkot's great circle of friends and family to garner support, especially for land and money. This meeting was a huge success. Everyone was very enthusiastic, especially Shawkot's eldest sister Fatima and brother Munsur. One of his many nieces had a suitable piece of land which he rented for the first two years before he was able to purchase it.
Family and friends contributed money and time and the Bangladesh Advisory Committee was formed.
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Nazmul Islam, a banker, became the Acting Chairman of the school and of the Executive Committee;
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Mohammad Ali, a business man, agreed to manage the finances;
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Maruf Hasan, a lawyer, became the Director of Education;
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Tasmin Shahnaz, a Telecommunications Specialist took over Teacher-Student relations;
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Mahfuza Islam, a Social Worker, is responsible for Daily Affairs of the school.
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SCHOOL FACILITIES
The school was named after Mr. Ali's mother, Maleka which means Queen in Bengali. It was a small bamboo and tin structure that sheltered eight students and one teacher. Once word spread that there was a school offering quality education, the demand grew and so did the school.
Today the school has a library, several classrooms, and an office which surround a large courtyard where exercise classes and celebrations are held. There is hope to build a second school which will house grades 6 to 12.
School entrance: Come to Learn. Go to Serve.
Classrooms and office.
Exercise, learning and fun go hand-in-hand.
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SCHOOL STAFF
The first Maleka Khatoon School had one teacher and eight students, in 2006.
Principal Rajendra Nath Das sees his students safely off to home.
Teachers with Terry Dunlap, Shawkot Ali and Mary Dunlap.
The teachers' school band.
SUPPORT STAFF
The Maleka Khatoon School is supported by a dedicated group of hard working support staff including 2 teacher helpers, 1 night guard, 1 janitor, and 2 accountant/clerks. Because there are approximately 110 children who live too far away from or are too small to walk to the school, there are 9 rickshaw "school buses" and 9 rickshaw drivers who also work on the team. " as of September 2009
